SQuAD Forging secures NADCAP accreditation, boosting India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities
Belagavi, July 30. In a significant milestone for India’s aerospace manufacturing sector, SQuAD Forging India Private Limited has been awarded the prestigious NADCAP accreditation for its forging process. The certification, granted by the Performance Review Institute (PRI), USA, places SQuAD among a select group of forging facilities worldwide recognised for adhering to the highest global standards in metallic materials manufacturing.
SQuAD is a joint venture between India-based Aequs Limited and French aerospace materials specialist Aubert & Duval, and operates out of the Belagavi Aerospace Cluster in Karnataka. The NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Programme) certification follows a rigorous audit of the company’s forging value chain – from raw material procurement and billet preparation to heating, coating, trimming, inspection, and final shipment.
The new accreditation adds to SQuAD’s existing NADCAP certifications in heat treatment and non-destructive testing (contact ultrasonic testing), underscoring the company’s growing capabilities as a fully integrated aerospace component supplier.
Commenting on the achievement, Aravind Melligeri, Executive Chairman & CEO of Aequs, said: “The NADCAP Forging Certification is a strong technical validation of SQuAD’s advanced capabilities within the Aequs ecosystem at the Belagavi Aerospace Cluster. It reinforces our ability to deliver a fully vertically integrated solution for finished aerospace components.”
Etienne Galan, CEO of Aubert & Duval and a former chair of the NADCAP organization board, hailed the recognition as a major accomplishment for the joint venture.
“This milestone reflects the outstanding capabilities of the SQuAD team and reaffirms our commitment to the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative,” he said.
SQuAD specialises in the forging of small to medium-sized aero-structural parts used in aircraft engines, landing gear, and braking systems, working with a variety of metals including aluminium, titanium, steel, and nickel-based alloys. Its advanced facilities include a 10,000-ton hydraulic press, a 1,200-ton screw press, and several supporting production lines.
The NADCAP accreditation complements SQuAD’s AS9100 certification and meets the stringent quality demands of global aerospace giants such as Airbus, Boeing, and Safran. The recognition is expected to enhance SQuAD’s visibility in the NADCAP Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) – a key directory for procurement teams across the global aerospace and defence industries.
Industry observers say the certification significantly strengthens India’s position in the global aerospace supply chain and reinforces the country’s credentials as a destination for high-precision, certified manufacturing.
